Wind-shield for automobiles.



Paf'fented Nov. 26, 1918.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

gjwrson) Z0.' Conn er:

H. w.`00NNER. Wmo SHIELD Foa AuToMolLs. APPLICATION FILED DEC. l2. 9l'7.

rammed NQMQG; 1918I HRRSON W. CONNER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

@VEND-SHIELD FR AUTOMOBILES,

Specieation of Letters Patent. Patented Nv, 26, 15H8,

Application led December 1'2. 1917'. Serial No. 206,761.

To all whom z' may concor-n:

Be it known that I, Hsnnrsozv W. CoNNEn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Sutfollr and State ofMassachusetts, have invented nen7 and useful Improvements inYVind-Shields for Automobiles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a Windshield for automobile or other vehiclebodies including a screen and means for displaceably connecting the.screen with the bodyf The invention has for its object to provide aWindshield comprising a screen and confining means whereby the screen isadapted to be connected with a vehicle body in such manner that it mayoccupy an operativeposition in front of a seat thereof, the screen andconfining means obstructing the passage communicating. with the seatwhen the shield is in its operative position Without obstructing theleg-receiving space in front of the seat, and being adapted to bedisplaced to leave said passage unobstructed for the entrance and egressof occupantsof the vehicle.

The invention also has for its object to enable a portion of theWindshield to support va wind-deecting diaphragm for preventing theaccess of 4'Wind below the Windshield to the seat, when the windshieldisv operatively adjusted.

The invention is embodied in the improvements which I Will now proceedto describe and claim.

Of the accompanying` drawings forming a part of this specicatiom- Figure1 is a side view of a portion of an automobile equipped with awindshield embodvingr the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view shov'ving" by.

full lines a. screen and confining means embodying the invention. and bydotted lines portions of the vehicle body.

Fig. 3 is a view similar-.to Fig. 2, showingr the Wind-deliectinp`diaphragm hereinafter described.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, showing the screendisplaced or low# ered independently, the confining' means,

embodied in the platform hereinafter de-v lscribed, and the diaphragm.being in the position shown by Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, showing a modiiioation.

Fig. 6-is a top plan view showing the preferred construction of thescreen and platform.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 8 is an end el vation of the screenand platform shown by Fig. 7.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

The screen member or portion of the Windshield may be of any suitableconstruction and may embody an oblong frame 12,

subdivided by transverse Stiles 121 into a plurality of openings andVsuitable panes or w i coverings of transparent material occupy ing saidopenings, the transparent material i being preferably flexible andnon-frangible, such 'as the material known as isinglass, and

secured to the frame by any suitable means 1 the front seat. As hereshown, said devices include a transverse rod 13 connectingr the innerends of the arms 13 and constituting pintle members of a plurality ofhinges, and

hinge socketmembers 16 engaging said pin-J tie members and adapted tobe' secured to the seat back 15. l'n practice, prefer to attach thehinge members 16 to a cleat 1T which is suitably attached to the seatback 15. The outer ends of the arms 13 are pref-A erably hinged to thelower edge of the screen frame 12. said arms being provided with sockets18 forming hinge members embracing potions of the lower member of theframe 12. As clearly shown bv Fig. 7, the platform including the arms13, the trans versemember 13, and anrouter transverse connectiner member1 3b metal tubing.

When thescreen is in its operative position, as shown oy Figs. 2 and3,'and by full lines in Fig. 1, the platform extendsrhorizontallyrearward from the back ofk the 'front seat, above the leg-receivingspace bemaybe made of los tween the iront enel rear seats, eo that theplatrorm does not eneroech on the legreceiving space anti lower portionoi? the screen is space. by Seial platform from the iront seat and heldin suitable proxinoitv to the rear seat.

s shown by Figs. l, 2 and 3, l have provided means for cletachablyconnecting the upper portion of the screen with suitable iixecl supportsto maintain the screen in a substantially upright position, said meansbeing preferably embodied in llexible straps or guys 19' end 20. Therearguys i9 may be cletachebly connected with fastening members et the rearportion. of the sides of? the vehicle body, :incl the front guys 20 maybe detachably connected with the front rod 13B as shown by Fig. Q. Itwill., 01"' course, be understood that the guys have suitable members'at their enel portions for engage ment with complemental members on thescreen and on the Yehie-le boy. Said guys may be flexible straps and maybe provided with suitable means for varying their length.. as may berequired.

The described hinge connection permits an upward and forward swingingmovement of the platform, .indicated by Fig. i? and by dotted lines inFig. l. to simultaneously remove the platform end the screen from thespace between the front and rear seats. W hen this is rione, the hingeconnection between the screen. sind the platform enables the screen to.etanol in an inverted position. folded against the platform, so thatthe space or passage between the seats is lett 11nobstrnctecl for theentrance and egress of passengers through the usual remdoor or floors22. lf rlesirecL'however, the platform may remain in its horizontalposition, and the screen displaced. indepcinlentl),Y enti swung downward:mtl forward, as .indi- Cetecl by Fig. 4, in cese the occupants of therear seat (lo not desire the protection afforded by the screen.

lVhile l prefer n hinge connection between the platform and the screen,l do not limit myself thereto. and may rigirlliY connect the lower edgeportion of the screen with the platform. as indicated by Fig'. 59 inwhich i3d indicates the platform. and 12d the screen, these parts being`shown displaced, nml the screen projecting forward over the iront seat.l'n this case the guys i9 :intl QG may be omitted, if desired.

The inflexible platform is flat and has sniiicient aren to support. aWind-ileiiecting diaphragm 22. which may be en oblong sheet of snitahleflexible material, formed as indicated by Fig. 3. to cover the platformand orerlop port-ions ot the sides of the bofljv. snirl portionsinclnrlinff the doors 2Q. rllhe diaphragm mail attached both to thebracket. and the screen. in snitoble Way. The end portions of are tooverien portions of the body enel. :ne provided. 'with fastening membersof any :irritable character adapted to engage eoinpieinentnl fasteningmembers 26 on the body.. so tiret provision is made for securelyconining the ends of the diephragm. The diaphragm is adapted to pie Ventwind from passing under the shield, mid constitutes :i horizontal guarrlor cover over robes or other belongings which may be left in. the spacebetween the seats when the vehicle is not occupied.

'ihe screen may be supported against (lownwarrl infr-lement frenioperative posit-ion in any suitable wary. eis here shown l malte thescreen of such length that its end portions project in oppositedirections from the platform. and are adopted to bear on supports on thevehicle bofly. Said supports. niej; be short studs or posts 27 at'-teolietl to the sicles ci the vehicle body behind the doors asinflicated by Figs. l, Q anti lt is obvious, however., that Said .st-ndsmay be omitted. anal that the screen may bear directly on portions ofthe body.

lllhen the platform anil screen are simultaneously displaced. thepassageway to the sent protected by the screen is unobstructed., so the;naseeng'crs may freely enter and leere the vehicle. rilhe passengersbeing locatezl on the sont, the screen may be moved to its operativeposition anti the guys i9 and 2o secured to operatively eonine or bracethe screen. he diaphragm is moved to and iirom its operative positionwith the screen ami platform. v

`will be seen that the described screen inni the coniining means Withwhich it is4 provided. eonstrtnte o unit-ary structure mlnptefl to beconveniently epnlieti to, and removed from various types of automobilebodies. no orientation of the body being necessary other than theattachment of the hinge members ilito e suitable lined part or' thehotly. suitable fastening members being also attoehefl to the borly toengage the guys. The riiaphragnn may be attached to the nlntiorm "anflsereen. so that it is insepnrable lhereirom and swings therewith. Theemi port-ions ot the diaphragm when engarffefi as (le-scribed 1with thesiflee o the vehicle body. prevent the plni'iiormsnd screen from iii-mphg upwardly, particularly when the .screen is rigidly' connected with theplatform as shown by Figi. ii. the guys i9 and 20 being; omitted.

lt is obvious that a (lisploccoble Windshield. embodying the inventionmay be arranged protect the occupants of a front sont. or may be adoptedto n vehicle having .lib

Laeaeae dotted lines in Fig. l, and confined at the desired inclinationby the adjustable guys 19 and 20. This inclination enables the screen todeflect wind upwardly and rearwardly over the heads of the passengers.

It will be seen that the diaphragm-supporting platform is provided atits inner end with a plurality of hinges includingliability ofdisplacement of the screen rom its predetermined operative position bywind pressure. It will also be seen that the screen is elongated toproject in opposite directions from the platform and bearon oppositeside portions of the body` so that the platform, and a diaphragm 23supported thereby, may be maintained by the screen in a substantiallyhorizontal position over the leg-receivinfr space in front of a seat.When the screen. is hinged tothe platform, as shown by all the figures,excepting Fig. 5, the hinge members connecting the screen to the outerend of the` platform constitute outer hinges, the hinge membersconnecting the platform to the vehicle body constituting inner hinges.each set of hinges constitilting an elongated hinge connection whichV istransverse to the body.

I claim:

l. A Windshield comprising a platform adapted to support awiud-deiecting diaphragm and provided at one end with a plurality ofspaced apart hinge members and with complementa] hingey membersattachable to a portion of a vehicle body in front of a seat thereof,the hinges formed by said members permitting the platform to swing on anaxis transverse to the vehicle and preventing movements of the platformin other directions. and a screen connected with the outer end of theplatform, means being provided for confining the screen at an 'anglewith the platform the screen being elongated to projectin'oppositedirections 'from the platform and bear on opposite sideportions of the vehicle body, to operatively support the windshield. asa Whole, with the platform in a horizontal position over theleg-receiving space in front of said seat, and the screen upstandingfrom the outer end of the platform.

` 2. A windshield comprising a platform adapted to support awinddeiiecting da ,phragni and provided at oneend with a plurality ofspaced apart hinge members and with complemented hinge members atutachable to a portion of a vehicle body in frontof a seat thereof, thehinges formed by said members permitting the platform to Y swing on anaxis transverse to the vehicle and preventing movements of the platformin other directions, the outer end of the platform being provided with alurality of spaced apart outer hinge menagere, and a screen providedwith Acomplementalouter hinge members jointed to the outer hinge membersof the platform, said members forming outer hinges permitting swingingmovements of the screen relatively to the platform on an axis transverseto the vehicle and preventing other swinging movementsof the screenrelatively to the platform,v

means being provided for confining the screen at an angle to theplatform, the screen being elongatedv to project in opposite directionsfrom the platform and bear on opposite side portions of the vehicle bodyto operatively support the Windshield, as a whole, with the platform ina horizontal position over the leg-receiving spacein front of said seatand the screen upstanding froml the outer end of the platform. Y

3. A windshield comprisin a platform adapted to support a "Windeectmgdiaphragm and including a rod which forms not only the inner end of theplatform, but also a plurality of spaced apart hinge pintle members,said platform havingspaced apart` hinge socket members at its outer end,hinge socket members jointed to the pintleforlning portions of said rod,and attachable to a portion of a vehicle body inV front of a seat'thereof, and a screen one edge of which includes spaced apart hingepintle-members jointed to the hinge socketgmembers on the outer end ofthe platform, means being provided for confining the s creen at ainangle with the platform, the screen being elongated to project inopposite directions from se.V

the platform and bear on opposite side portions of the vehicle body to oeratively su port the windshield, as a w ole, with t elv platform in ahorizontal position over 'the' leg-receiving space in front of saidseat'aid the screen upstanding from the outer end of( the platform.

n testimony whereof I have axed my signature.

nAaarsoN W. ooNNER.

